- Luaus give visitors the chance to experience Hawaiian culture.wing of hawaii image by Tomasz Pawlowski from Fotolia.com
Grass skirts, flowered leis and pigs roasted underground are key features in any Hawaiian luau. Luaus are a part of Hawaii's rich heritage and should be experienced on a trip to the island state. Planning your vacation around a luau ensures that you won't miss the opportunity. The best way to do this is to book your stay at a hotel or resort that offers its own onsite luau. - When staying at King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel, visitors can attend the Island Breeze Hawaiian Luau. The luau takes places on the former estate of King Kamehameha the Great, the warrior-king who united the Hawaiian islands. A lei greeting and imu (the traditional underground oven) ceremony begins the luau. The Royal Court arrives by outrigger canoe and then the traditional meal begins. Following dinner is a spectacular presentation that includes Fijian and Maori war dances, the Hawaiian hula and a Samoan Fire knife dancer. Located on Hawaii's Big Island, the King Kamehameha Hotel is newly renovated but it still vitally linked to Hawaii's rich cultural heritage.
King Kamehameha Hotel
75-5660 Palani Rd
Kailu-Kona, Hawaii 96740
808-329-2911
konabeachhotel.com - At the Kona Village Resort, guests stay in private, thatched-roof bungalows set across 82 oceanfront acres. This Big Island resort is home to Hawaii's longest running luau that takes place every Wednesday and Friday. The luau traditions alternate between the Hawaiian Hula Mana Luau and Polynesian Hale Ho'okipa Savai`i. Each tradition offers its own unique dances, including the Hawaiian Hula Kahiko and a poi ball dance. Cooked in either an imu (Hawaiian) or umu (Polynesian) earthen oven, traditional dishes such as kalua pig, lomi lomi salmon and poi are served alongside more contemporary foods to feed pickier eaters.
Kona Village Resort
Kohala Coast
Kailua Kona, Hawaii 96745
800-367-5290
konavillage.com - The Hilton Waikoloa Village gives guests the chance to experience a Polynesian-style luau. The Legends of the Pacific Luau features interactive demonstrations and Polynesian tattoo artists prior to the meal. Along with dances and music from around the Pacific Rim, the buffet dinner includes an umu oven presentation complete with a kalua pig. Special tickets are available for those who don't feel like eating but still want to experience all the drama of the traditional Polynesian dances. The resort surrounds an inlet on the shores of Waiulua Bay on Hawaii's Big Island. Its size (1, 240 rooms) allows guests to take part in many other activities such as its own golf course, spa and the chance to play with dolphins.
Hilton Waikoloa Village
69-425 Waikoloa Beach Drive
Waikoloa, Hawaii 96738
808-886-1234
hiltonwaikoloavillage.com
